Honey Ryder expected to produce her best

Honey Ryder, one of the best turf mares in the US, will run in the Sheema Classic (Gr 1) on World Cup night in Nad Al Sheba.

She may not be among the favourites on the big day but do not underestimate this grey contender.

She was a model of consistency in her 5-year-old season, winning four of her seven races, at three different tracks, and she was third at the Breeders' Cup.

She is one of five Dubai shippers from Todd Pletcher - a record breaking champion trainer in North America. The man means business.

Arch rival

She closed this successful 2006 campaign, worth close to a million dollars in prize money, by finishing a game third, three - lengths behind Ouija Board, in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (Gr 1) at Churchill Downs.

Honey Ryder ran right up to her best that day, finishing a neck behind her arch rival Film Maker.

Honey Ryder had just got the better of Film Maker at Belmont Park in October, when they met in the Flower Bowl Handicap (Gr 1) previously, but - interestingly - they both ran below their best there.

The pace, set by outsider Jade Queen, was slow and the contest developed into a stretch dash, rather than a test of stamina.

Honey Ryder enjoyed a ground saving trip and won by no more than a nose but she was also giving 1kg to Film Maker.

Honey Ryder had won seven of her last 11 races and she has become a very solid performer.

She also produced her best when carrying top weight to a game head win over Olaya and Latice in a tough R G Dick Memorial at Delaware Park last July (she also won the event in 2005). She has run well on five different tracks, so coming to Nad Al Sheba is unlikely to faze her.

Strong pace

She is suited by firm ground but has also won on soft, she stays well and her best performances have come when she has had the opportunity to close into a strong pace. She was compromised by a steady pace in her last race. Give her quicker earlier fractions at Nad Al Sheba, and she will be passing many in the straight.

This will be the tenth running of the Sheema Classic, and thus far no filly or mare has won the big turf race.

And no grey has won it. Can Honey Ryder become the first to break both these 'stats' down?

Geir Stabell can be contacted at www.globeform.com